One of the first things you notice when you move to Colorado is that the landscape is completely different from that of the east coast. In my native New Jersey, towns blend together with only rare patches of farmland or forest making demarcation more obvious. Small towns are those with 2000 or fewer people.
In Colorado, on the other hand, open space is the rule. To the east you have the Great Plains, which are only occasionally broken by windmills and gas stations. To the west lie the Rockies with occasional mountain villages located in the narrow valleys between stony peaks. Most of Colorado's population actually lives in a 50 mile wide corridor of land along the eastern slope.
One of the great pleasures of driving in Colorado is the diversity of landscape. One moment you are winding through an aspen forest straddling a mountain pass and the next descending into a vast plain of ranchland before rising once more into another pass. The best part is that hidden away in countless little niches are some of the most fascinating little towns. This article details my experiences in a handful of such villages along the foothills. The best way to reach most of these towns is the Peak to Peak Highway, a stretch of road along routes 7 and 119 connecting Estes Park with route 70. The highway lies just behind the curtain of the foothills and is one of the most scenic byways in the state.
Gold Hill - Gold Hill is NOT an easy place to reach. Although located only 15 miles northwest of Boulder, it takes nearly an hour on dirt roads to ascend the foothills and arrive in downtown Gold Hill. Like the ghost town of St. Elmo, Gold Hill has been carefully preserved by 228 hardy residents who seek the isolation of the mountains. On any given day you can find photographers or painters along Main Street plying their craft. Gold Hill, like many small towns in Colorado, started out as a mining camp. In 1859 it was the site of one of the first major gold discoveries in Colorado,. The settlement was later moved to escape the the bitter cold and strong winds of the mountains. Gold Hill also escaped the 2010 Four Mile wildfire. Driving to Gold Hill along Four Mile road or Sunshine Canyon road still reveals extensive fire damage in the form of demolished homes and charred tree trunks. Downtown Gold Hill is home to an antique shop, the Gold Hill Cafe and the Gold Hill Inn. About 5 miles west you can also find a Hindu ashram.
Nederland - For a town with 1400 people, Nederland doesn't have the feel of some sleepy village. Ned has bars, fine dining restaurants, art boutiques and many fine cafes. The town also hosts two festivals: Ned Fest and Frozen Dead Guy Days. When the bustle of Boulder or Denver get to be too much, heading up to Nederland is one of my favorite ways to relax. I enjoy breakfast at Whistler's Café (phenomenal biscuits and gravy), dinner at Kathmandu (Indian and Nepalese) and a cup of Third Street Chai from Happy Trails on South Bridge street. One of the town's biggest attractions is hiking. The three mile Tungsten Trail leads from downtown Nederland along Barker Reservoir to an overlook of Barker Dam. The Indian Peaks Wilderness Area is also located nearby.
Jamestown - I initially sought out Jamestown on the recommendation of a friend of the family. Located just off Left Hand Canyon Drive to the northwest of Boulder, Jamestown is a truly small hamlet with only 205 people. The town sprouted up during the Gold Rush but was the frequent victim of catastrophic floods due deforestation and the steep canyon walls surrounding the town. Despite its small size Jamestown has its own Post Office and the Jamestown Mercantile, a local eatery known for its homemade food and live music.
Rollinsville - With a population of 181, Rollinsville is smaller than Jamestown but more accessible. Located on route 119 between Nederland and Black Hawk, Rollinsville is served by the highway and railroad. I first encountered the town on a recent drive to Central City. From the highway it looks like something out of a Christmas menagerie. The town is composed mainly of wood framed buildings. Main Street is a dirt road bisected by route 119. On the eastern side of the road you can see the main attractions: The Stage Stop, a bar and restaurant originally constructed in 1868 and Rollinsville Liquor and Grocieries. 20 miles to the west Needle's Eye Tunnel is actually a foot and bike path across the Continental Divide.
Black Hawk and Central City - Since a 1990 voter referendum legalizing gambling, Black Hawk and neighboring Central City have flourished as casino towns. Both have easy access to Denver and Interstate 70 but they are also set in an idyllic valley called Gregory Gulch and filled with historic buildings. Black Hawk is the more bustling of the two towns, home to the 33 story Ameristar hotel and casino. Historically the town of Black Hawk had ample access to water, which made it an ideal milling site. Central City, on the other hand, was the scene of major gold discoveries, which drove the growth of Boulder and Denver. Central City was once known as the "Richest Square Mile on Earth." Downtown Central City features a 19th Century opera house and the Teller House hotel. You can also visit the local history museum, which was the site of the town jail. If someone is in you can actually step into the jail cell and read about famous murders and hangings.
Ward - Ward is located at 9,450 feet, not far from Estes Park and Longs Peak . Ward is served by route 72, the Peak to Peak highway. Like Nederland, Ward has greatly benefited from the influx of artists and young professionals seeking nature and seclusion. The current population is only 150. One reason to visit Ward is the Millsite Inn. Located on the highway, the Millsite a cozy bar and restaurant that smells year round like campfire and serves up a mean sausage stromboli.
Sources:
Gilson, Bob. "Peak to Peak Winter Guide: 2011." Code Sail Corporation
Lavendar, David. "The Rockies." University of Nebraska Press. 1968.
Personal Experience
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